Secrets of Egyptian life 3,000 years ago revealed in Torquay

The secrets of ancient Egypt are being revealed in Torquay.
A special British Museum Touring Exhibition is coming to Torquay Museum.
It's a chance to explore the incredible story of the international race to decipher ancient hieroglyphs in the ‘Egyptian hieroglyphs: unlock the mystery’ exhibition at the museum from October 21 right through to February 18 next year.
The fascinating story of how hieroglyphs were decoded is being celebrated with Torquay being the last stop on the tour. It follows the major show at the British Museum, marking the bicentenary of this breakthrough.
The exhibition incorporates interactive elements to tell the story. It introduces visitors to great pioneers such as Jean-Francois Champollion, who undertook revolutionary work on deciphering the ancient Egyptian language. Objects on display include an extract from the Book of the Dead, belonging to the priestess Nestanebetisheru, and a large limestone lintel revealing the name of Pharaoh Ramses III. It is all about the journey to unearth the central role hieroglyphs played in the life and afterlife of the ancient Egyptians.
Torquay Museum was chosen as a partner in the exhibition tour because of its own permanent Egyptology gallery. This includes items from the tomb of Seti I and a beautiful New Kingdom coffin made for a small boy, probably of royal birth. This coffin is one of the finest in a regional museum in the UK
Dr Ilona Regulski, Curator of Egyptian Written Culture at the British Museum, said: "With the decipherment of hieroglyphs 200 years ago, the secrets of one of the world’s oldest civilizations were finally unlocked. This ground-breaking achievement provided an unprecedented window into the ancient Egyptian people and their way of life. We could suddenly understand the letters they wrote, the shopping lists they created and the rituals they left behind on tomb and temple walls.
"These insights have given us a much clearer picture of life in Egypt 3,000 years ago.”
Entry to the exhibition requires a valid Museum ticket and it is strongly recommended that time slots be booked during half term week. These can be booked via the Art Tickets website.
To launch the exhibition, Dr Regulski will give a special talk on how the mystery of the hieroglyphs was solved. The lecture is free to attend (with a suggested donation of £3) But booking is essential as the capacity of the hall is limited. Tickets can be booked via the Museum website.